ILO: Let Us Act Now to End Child Labour

By Maliki Muunguja

The ILO, in collaboration with the government of Tanzania have pledged to address child labour in tobacco producing region of Tabora. Efforts to end child in Tabora are championed by the Regional Commissioner (RC) who is the patron of child protection activities in the region. His office with the support of the ILO through the project entitled “Addressing Decent Work Deficits in the Tobacco Sector”, among other things, child labour stakeholders have funded radio based learning programs called Tabora Darasa Plus. These programmes aired classroom like sessions for pupils who are at home due to COVID-19 – availing lessons from those in preschool to form four throughout the week. The programs are aired through community radios and have reached approximately 50-60% of students in the region during this period when schools are closed. Thus, aiding children continue learning during the pandemic.

Tanzania was one of the first countries in the world to implement a nationally-owned Time Bound Programme to eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labour. The first Time Bound Programme was launched in Mainland Tanzania in 2001 and a revised National Action Plan on the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour was released in 2009. A new National Strategy on Elimination of Child labour (2018-2022) has been launched to guide national efforts against child labour over the next four years. The Strategy is framed within an overall vision of a Tanzania in which children live free from child labour and its worst forms while enjoying their rights in a safe environment. The National Strategy identifies seven strategies to eliminate child labour: Enhancing compliance with labour standards; Strengthening multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration; Strengthening household income by empowering men, women and child headed households; Integrating comprehensive social protection systems; Improving access to alternative forms of education to all vulnerable children; Institutionalized mechanisms on rehabilitation and social integration for children withdrawn from child labour and its worst forms; and Enhancing public awareness on impact of child labour and its worst forms. In the discussion that follows, some of these strategies will be articulated further.

ILO: Let Us Act Now to End Child Labour

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